We wish our President, Melanie Harty, well. She has her nose to the grindstone, it being tax season. With our President Elect, Bruce Shepard, out of town, the pleasure of heading up the visit to REDI fell on the shoulders of President Nominee, Mike Christie.
We spent a very informative and pleasant hour at REDI on Allowance Avenue, with Executive Director Craig Wood and other staff members and clients, who brought us up to speed with the range of services offered by REDI, in Southern Alberta.
One of the many things that impressed was to be reminded of the major shift in the work of REDI and similar organizations over the decades, from the unfortunate separation and institutionalization of people with disabilities (PWD) and the confinement of those who could work, to workshops, to the present-day ethos of inclusion and integration of PWD into the community – at work, at play, at home.
Through a range of innovative services, REDI helps PWD to take flight, to attain respect, opportunity and responsibility.
All respect to the dedicated and committed staff, volunteers, and clients of REDI, a truly innovative, creative organization offering vital services in Southern Alberta.
See more in the STORY section of this newsletter.
Rotary Club "What-z New":
A few more meeting helpers are required to run cameras and sound during our hybrid meetings. Anyone wishing to help should contact Mike Christie 403 878 3311.
Rotary Club Membership Update:
Please consider joining the membership team. Check out a meeting of this team and see how exciting it is! The committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:00 pm. Contact Mike Christie to join in.
Rotary Club Information:
Housekeeping:
If you have a Meeting Minute, please phone, text or email the President and it will be included in the next Newsletter.
Board minutes can be found on ClubRunner, under Club Documents.
Upcoming Club Program, Activities and Meetings:
Monday April 3rd - Club Business meeting at The Lodge
Monday April 3rd - Rotary Bingo (evening)
Monday April 10th - No Meeting - HAPPY EASTER!
Monday April 17th - Club Meeting at The Lodge - Guest speaker: Sue Withers
May 8th and 9th - Next Rotary Club Casino
Friday June 16th - Rotary at the Ballpark, Athletic Park
Upcoming Rotary District and International Events
Rotary District Club Learning Webinar: Wednesday April 5th from 7-8pm, on LITERACY - learn what it means to be literate, why literacy is so important, and how everyone has a role to play in helping others. Register on the District 5360 website, using this link: https://rotary5360.ca/event/march-club-learning-webinar
Rotary District Club Learning Webinar: Wednesday April 19th from 7-8pm, on THE OPIOID CRISIS & DRINKING WATER CONNECTION - Project SMART
Next District Conference: Lethbridge: May 5/6, 2023. Have you registered yet? The conference website is located at https://www.discon5360.ca Margie mentioned that some ride sharing and car pooling might let more folks attend.
Rotary International Convention: 27 - 31 May 2023, in Melbourne, Australia.
Ideas for Future Programs
The Rotary Club's Program Committee members are Jillian Koch (jkoch@jmhca.com), Dave Panabaker (d.panabaker@hotmail.com) and Margie Booyens (margiebooyens@gmail.com).
If you have ideas for future programs, please contact them.
REDI ENABLES INDIVIDUALS TO ATTAIN RESPECT, OPPORTUNITY, AND RESPONSIBILITY
On Monday 27 March 2023, at noon, members of the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat congregated at REDI Enterprises Society on Allowance Avenue SE in the Hat.
This being an outing to a well-known and well-respected resource in our community, a few members were accompanied by their spouses.
We were received by Almira Vujovic (Manager, REDIworks), wife of Rotarian Milan, who very ably organized the program for the visit.
In one short hour, we had the privilege of meeting and being addressed by a number of staff members and clients, including Craig Wood (Executive Director), John Steer (Secretary, The Action Group, Medicine Hat), Sean Tiffin (Member of TAG in Brooks), Robin Keenan (Job Developer), and Dalton Ehry (Fund Development Coordinator).
Executive Director Craig Wood summarized the impressive history of REDI, which has steadily grown and evolved over the decades from its pioneering start to the present.
REDI was founded in Medicine Hat in 1952. The growth and development of the services of this organization, from those early days, is truly amazing. What has remained consistent, however, is the openness and the drive of those involved in the organization, to be creative and innovative.
The services of REDI are based on the belief that each person has the right to be respected, to have opportunities to be part of the community, and to have responsibilities as citizens in the community – including opportunities to contribute to community life, and to be valued for efforts in this regard.
Geographically, REDI has expanded over the decades to encompass much of Southern Alberta, including Lethbridge and Brooks.
A few clients and a REDI staff member from Brooks were present, one of whom, Sean Tiffin, illustrated the advocacy work being done by REDI in that city. One example: they have succeeded in getting the name of the Brooks operated bus for People With Disability changed, from HANDY-BUS to ACCESS TRANSIT.
As portrayed in these images, this Monday meeting was held in the cafeteria at REDI (previously a workshop for people with disability), with all sitting comfortably around tables in a bright room, taking in the presentations, and enjoying the refreshments that were kindly provided.
John Steer (Secretary of the The Action Group) explained that TAG is a self-advocacy group, most of the members being REDI Enterprises clients.
TAG members in Medicine Hat meet once a month to discuss goals and make plans to create an impact in the community. One illustration of what they do is to visit schools to talk about TAG and their advocacy efforts and successes.
Unpacking aspects of the history of REDI, Robin Keenan shared how REDI was the brainchild of Ada Williams and Beth Clarke, pioneers in an era that did not support the idea of women or people with disabilities being advocates and entrepreneurs.
From its humble beginning in 1952, located in the Empress Theatre building at that time, REDI is now a registered charity and non-profit organization, with its offices on Allowance Avenue.
It supports upward of 600 people in their quest towards independent living, and has spread its services over the years from Medicine Hat to include the entire southern region of Alberta.
Robin Keenan spoke about the five divisions of REDI:
Brain Injury Relearning Services (BIRS)
REDIconnects:
The Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) Adult Mentorship Program
Cross Disability Support Services
Community Access for people in continuing care
REDIlives: supporting about 75 people 24/7 to live and participate in the community
REDIworks: assisting people with developmental disabilities to gain meaningful community involvement through employment and volunteerism. With about 60 community partners, REDIworks has created over 100 employment and 60 volunteer positions for 90+ individuals in the past 12 months
REDIventures
Illustrating REDI’s commitment to innovation, Robin shared how from being the first bottle depot in southern Alberta, REDI now also offers confidential shredding and e-Waste recycling.
In 2000, REDI closed their workshop that had provided piecework employment. The purpose was to support and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the community, through employment and volunteering.
Dalton Ehry (Fund Developer) was the final speaker. He spoke about the “Everyone Can” REDI initiative, a collaborative marketing strategy that is intended to accomplish three things:
Increase awareness of the REDI brand
Celebrate and highlight community partners
Promote inclusion and reduce stigma around disability in communities
The request to partners, including Rotary, is to grow the initiative with REDI, by placing the Everyone Can Initiative marketing material on their online website and social media, and by supporting REDI activities in the city.
Our meeting was concluded with President Nominee Mike Christie thanking the REDI staff and clients, in particular Executive Director Craig and Almira, for the informative, well-organized visit.
There were 18 Club members in attendance; no ZOOM link for obvious reasons
Club Draw:
No Club Draw this week
Please remember to contribute items for the weekly draw as the stock cupboard is running low.
Makeups:
None mentioned
Birthdays:
Glen Presley April 03
Neil Mardian April 03
Sarah Koch April 04
Bernie Scott April 09
Rotary Anniversaries:
Dick Bide Apr 11, 1971 52 years.
Terry Brekko Apr 01, 1989 34 years
Joe Hrankowski Apr 03, 2000 23 years
Dave Panabaker Apr 01 2004 19 years
Donald Davis Apr 01, 2011 12 years
Wedding Anniversary Rose Runner for April 2023:
Glen Presley
Reminders about important Minutes:
Dinner Club
Dick Bide would like to get the Dinner Club underway. He encouraged those put their names down, to send him a date for the dinner at their house.
E-bike Raffle Tickets
The e-bike raffle provides funds for the Sunrise Rotary Club to sponsor community and international causes. An important one for them is literacy, through the “Sunrise Rotary Ride the Road to Reading” program at the Medicine Hat Public Library, for grade four students in the city. Use this link to buy tickets with a credit card: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/18de336b-5b29-4ee9-8e0a-81ade75a8684
Sunrise Rotary Club anniversary
Just a reminder of the 25th anniversary celebration of the chartering of the Sunrise Club will take place in the evening of Tuesday June 20, 2023. The draw for the two e-bikes will be done same evening.
The Medicine Hat Club chartered the Sunrise Club in June 1998. Past President of our Club, Mark Sorenson, was one of the charter members. Plans will be announced when they are finalized but please mark the date.
District Club Learning Webinar: Wednesday, April 5
The Case for Literacy in Alberta
District Club Learning Webinar: Wednesday, April 19
The Opioid Crisis & Drinking Water Connection - Project SMART
Registration is open for both these webinars, on the District 5360 website - under EVENTS.
Team Freewheel Bike project: The Bike Project encourages everyone to visit the project at 551 Spencer Street (Knowles Electric building). Thursday mornings are a good time to swing by for a cup of coffee and a chat with the team working on the bikes. Active involvement in the project would be warmly welcomed!
Clubrunner "Changeover" Training Series: Clubrunner, our Club Operations Software is providing a broad series of training webinars, to coincide with the changeover of club executives. Sessions on every aspect of Clubrunner are available, from District Executive, Membership, Club Executives and Website operations. Register online at https://site.clubrunner.ca/page/changeover-training
Meeting Room Setup
John John needs assistance setting up the meeting room on a go forward basis. The time commitment is about an hour before the meeting, starting at 11:00 am and about a half hour after the meeting, usually ending around 1:30 pm. If you are willing to help, please contact John or Dave Panabaker.
Family of Rotary:
Rotarian Sandy Mackay is on the mend and we were happy to welcome him to the meeting at REDI on Monday
The club sends its prayers and best wishes to former Rotarian Ray Kemp, who is undergoing radiation treatment in Lethbridge.
Please keep Adolf Seiler informed about members health changes so that information can be provided to the club through the Weekly News.
The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat has returned to meeting in person, face-to-face meetings as of Monday March 21. A ZOOM link will still be available for those who are cautious, ill or are away on vacation.
